Liquid-volume indicator



Jan. 8, 1924. l 1,479,858

c. D. JENNEY LIQUID VOLUME INDICATOR Filed Aug. 15 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 8 1924.

C. D. JENNEY LIQUID VOLUME INDICATOR Filed Aug. 15 1919 2 Shouts-Sheet 2 ITM Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES CHARLES D. JENNEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LIQUID-VOLUME INDICATOR.

Application led August 15, 1919. Serial No. 317,772.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. JENNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of lVayne and State ot Michigan7 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Volume Indicators, otl which the following is a speciication` This invention relates to liquid level indicators and has for an object to provide a device especially, though not exclusively, for use on the fuel tank of an automotive vehicle to indicate the height of the motive fuel in the tank and consequently the volume of fuel in gallons or other standard measure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device adapted to be employed upon tanks of substantially the usual and ordinary type and embodying new and improved features ot convenience of installation and use, as well as economy and reliability.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through a conventional tank and through the cap of the indicator, showing some of `he working parts in section;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the dial.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, the plane of which is at right-angles to the plane of Figure 1 and taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1, being partly in section and partly in elevation;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the nipple with the cap removed;

Figure 5 is a plan View of the plate supporting the mechanism on the nipple, and

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on line 6--6 of Figure 1, showing the manner of attaching the float to the rotating parts.

The improved liquid volume indicator which forms the subject matter of this application is adapted to be attached to a tank 10 of substantially the usual and ordinary type, the size andv form in no way limiting the present invention, notwithstanding the fact that the tank, as shown at Figure 1, is indicated circular and intended as cylindrical.

At substantially the top of the tank, anywhere throughout its longitude, an. opening is formed, over which is secured a nipple 12.

The manner of securing the nipple to the tank forms no part of the present invention, but is here disclosed by way of a substantially annular flange 13 riveted to the cylinder by means of rivets 14. The formation of the nipple 12 is such that the top or upper surface stands at an inclination to the radius struck from the center of the tank. In other words, with the tank located with the indicator at the top, the surt'ace of the indicator will be inclined to a horizontal. This is desirable, especially for use in fuel tanks carried at the rear ot' a mo-.

tor vehicle, ttor the reason that sight of the indicator from directly, or approximately, above is often obscured by the body of the vehicle as well as by extra tires or other accessories or impediments carried upon the vehicle.

The nipple 12 is provided in its upper surface with an opening 14 of such size and shape as to permit the insertion therethrough of the apparatus forming the structure of the operating mechanism. The shape of the opening 14. while shown at Figure 4 in a preferred form, is immaterial to the present invention. Upon its upper surface also the nipple is provided with an annular rabbet 15 into which is snugly fitted the plate 16, To the plate 16 is secured a bar 17 in any ap" proved manner, as by the rivets 18, and an ear 19 is secured to the plate 16 in any approved manner, as by rivets 20, the ear 19 being adjacent the opening 21 and spaced from the bar 17.

Between the bar 17 and the ear 19 a sleeve is journalled upon a pintle 23, which said pintle 23 is inserted through registering openings in the ear 19 and the bar 17 and is secured in any approved manner, as by forming a shoulder 24 thereon abutting the bar 17 and applying a lock-nut 25 as indicated more particularly at Figure 3.

Upon the sleeve 22 a graduated cylinder 26 is mounted by means of abutting against a shoulder 27 and the use of a spring washer or spider 28 and nut 29 by which tension can be exerted upon the graduated cylinder to permit of a manual turning of the same when desired relative to the sleeve 22, but to normally hold such cylinder in position to travel with the sleeve. An arc of the cylinder 26 extends through the opening 21 and extends adjacent the disc 30 spaced from the disc 14 by a gasket 31. Over this disc 30 a glass plate 32 is employed preferably spaced fil) is mounted a nipple, said nipple provided with a bearing upon which are fixedly mounted toothed wheel and a graduated cylinder, said cylinder being provided with means whereby it may be manually adjusted with respect to its bearing, a rigid arm carried by said nipple and provided at its lower extremity with a loosely mounted toothed wheel, an arm rigidly mounted on said wheel and provided with a fioat rigidly secured to the extremity of the arm, and a chain connecting the two aforesaid toothed wheels, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. A liquid volume indicator comprising a tank, a nipple secured thereto, a shaft journaled in said nipple, a sprocket wheel mounted on said shaft, a graduated cylinder mounted on said shaft, an arm secured to the nipple, a sprocket wheel mounted on the arm, a float connected to move with the sprocket wheel, and a chain connecting the two aforesaid sprocket wheels, substantially as set forth. y

4. A liquid volume indicator comprising a tank, a` nipple secured thereto, a shaft `iournaled in said nipple, a sprocket wheel mounted on said shaft, a graduated cylinder mounted on said shaft, an arm secured to the nipple, a sprocket wheel mounted on the arm, a float connected to move with the sprocket wheel, and a chain connecting the two aforesaid sprocketwheels, said chain including an interposed section of a helical spring, substantially as set forth and for the purpose thereof.

5. A liquid volume indicator comprising a tank, a support, a wheel pivotally mounted adjacent each end thereof, driving connections between said wheels, a float connected to move with the lower wheel, an indicating drum mounted coaxially with the upper wheel and rotatable therewith and a nipple secured to the tank and supporting the aforesaid parts said nipple having a transparent portion permitting inspection of the indicating surface, as set forth.

6. A liquid volume indicator comprising a support, a wheel at each end thereof, driving connections between said wheels, a float connected to move with the lower wheel, indicating means mounted coaxially with the upper wheel, and a slip connection between the indicating means and the second wheel, substantially as set forth.

7. A liquid volume indicator comprising a support, upper and lower sprockets thereon, a sprocket chain connecting them, a resilient connection interposed between two sections of the chain, a oat connected to move with the lower sprocket, and indicating means driven by the upper sprocket, substantially as set forth.

8. A liquid volume indicator comprising a support, upper and lower sprockets thereon, a sprocket chain connecting them, a wire interposed between two sections of the chain, a float connected to move with the lower sprocket, and indicating means driven by the upper sprocket, substantially as set forth.

9. A liquid volume indicator comprising a support, upper and lower sprockets thereon, a float connected to move with the lower sprocket, indicating means driven by the upper sprocket, a. length of sprocket chain engaging each sprocket, a spring connecting said lengths at one side, and a wire connecting them at the other, substantially as set forth.

l0. A liquid volume indicator comprisin a support, a wheel pivotally mounted a jacent each end thereof, flexible driving connections between said wheels, a float connected to move with the lower wheel, and an indicating drum rotated vby said wheels, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Detroit Michigan, this 12th day of August, A. D. nineteen hundred and nineteen.

CHARLES D. JENNEY. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

J. G. WoNN, RALPH A. CoNm. 

